Erinzam News

I recently discovered these two great materials at the fabric store. Their textures really caught my eye. Jute webbing (1) is a strong material that is used as an upholstery support. Ticking fabric (2) is made from cotton and has a traditional striped design. Upholstery-weight ticking feels similar to canvas. Both have much potential for a variety of projects. Don’t you think? I would love to try the jute webbing as a book cover. The ticking will make a great pillowcase (when I get around to it!).

After a hiatus dedicated to full-time design work, I am happy to now have time for a few other projects. The most exciting thing that I am currently working on is a follow-up to At Home with Handmade Books. Ben and I began work this past weekend at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, CA. We looked for materials and props to use in the photography for the upcoming book, with much success! Here are a few of the great props that we found:

1. Wood crate
2. Croquet mallets and balls
3. Tooled leather belt
4. Binoculars
5. Lantern
6. Burlap coffee sack
7. Postcard booklet
8. Box of colored pencils
9. Wood rulers
10. Fishing tackle box

My favorite purchase is the petite red lantern. It’s so cute!

I hope to continue to post updates as I work on projects and procure more props for the upcoming book. I have eight months to get it all together!

I found these two lovely illustrated books discarded from the library.

While working on a recent project, I did a quick internet search for images of vintage library pockets for inspiration. I found very little online, so I searched through my collection of old library books. I found several great examples and wanted to share images of them so that you can use them for inspiration as well!

My husband, Ben, is participating in an art exhibition called the “Enormous Tiny Art Show“. Each piece in the show must measure 10 x 10 inches or less. If you like to browse great original art, this your chance! The online gallery shows each of the pieces on exhibit. Ben’s drawings are on view here. If you are lucky enough to live near Portsmouth, NH, you can even see these lovelies in person. The images below are just a sample.

Quiet Thought by Michele Maule

Tessur by Ben Schlitter

Exploring Space by Brandi Strickland

Lucky Neon Elephant by Mati McDonough

Here is another “better late than never” post! I wanted to at least share a few pics from this newly published book of hand bound inspirations. 500 Handmade Books is filled to the brim with a huge variety of artists’ books and it seems like I see something new each time I look through it. Many of my favorite books are made with beautiful materials such as fibers and plant matter. A few of my own books are included as well (the first image below is one of them). If you need a little dose of inspiration, this book is definitely worth checking out! Take a peek at your local bookstore. You may even want to take one home with you. (It is available for purchase on the web at Amazon.com.)

After much anticipation, I recently received my copy of Fully Booked - Cover Art and Design for Books, published by Die Gestalten Verlag. I’m quite excited to be included in this fantastic collection! The second and third images above include my own work, and below are a few images including the work of other artists and designers. Fully Booked is filled to the brim with wonderful designs, including book covers as well as artist books. If you are looking for a good dose of inspiration, this is a great place to find it! It is available in many bookstores, and also at Amazon.

Here are a few pics from a recent trip back home to Kansas. The wheat was ripe and ready for harvesting and recent rains left the landscape bright green. There is plenty of inspiration to be found in the city, but I am always awed by the vivid blue sky and constantly changing cloud formations of the plains.